---- I was born November 26th 1962 in Clarksburg, West Virginia. There were four of us and I was the only boy and the youngest. I received Jesus in my heart and was saved at age 12, June 12th 1975. Sarah a neighbor girl was a Christian and a few years older than me. She would have Bible classes at her house every day and she would tell me and show me scriptures how to get saved. I was excited to say the least. I wasnt sure exactly what happened but it felt very good. God was separating me from the world and at the same time protecting me. This was around the same time my parents were divorcing which was very traumatic for me. My mother was left to try and raise four kids alone. She could barely make ends meet. And sometimes couldnt, but she loved my sisters and me. She just didnt have a lot of time. I grew up like most kids I guess, I played sports, and went to school. Both came pretty easy for me. I was a good kid. I couldnt imagine experimenting with drugs or alcohol. If I even did something dishonest or immoral, the guilt would consume me. Into my early twenties I started using pot and alcohol sociably. The more I did, the easier it became. I didnt realize my soul was beginning to wear thin. I dont believe in dwelling in the past, but you name it, I tried it. You think of a way of doing it and I did it. But I knew God was in me regardless of my disregard for Him. I would ask myself and wonder, Why is it everyone else seems to be OK with this kind of life and I am so miserable? God doesnt easily let His children wander to far away. Either I hadnt hit rock bottom or I couldnt take my hands off my own life. It was both I guess. I kept God buried as far down inside me as I could get away with, all the time telling me He could and would help me if I would ask. Through many prayers from family and good friends, God directed me to Bible Baptist Temple with very little left inside me and no place to go. Our Pastor, Charles V. Madaus, had enough faith in me to send me to Calvary Boys Ranch / City Of Refuge where guys go to get their lives together. That was the first of many blessings God has given me since I made a choice to always be humble and to have a teachable spirit. I like who I am now and I like who God is in me. Sometimes I get frustrated because I cant thank Him enough, or at least the way He deserves to be thanked. Today I try to be obedient, faithful and appreciative. I can honestly say that through all of this, God never let me down. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Im Living It!
Robb Fox